Are you better off? Income types

Search: The Budget and tax bands

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Has the budget actually made you better off? What people often don't realise is that not all changes due to take place are announced in the Budget speech given by the Chancellor. A good number are only released in the small print after.

For example, in the 2007/2008 tax year no one pays tax on the first £5,225 of earnings (known as the 'nil-rate' band). But in the 2008/2009 tax year, this will increase by £210, making a good many of us fractionally better off.

From a young couple with a baby, to older retirees, here are a number of income 'types' and what the Budget means for them in terms of their annual wealth: